[REC] (2007): Reviewed by BRYAN SCHUESSER
Directors Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza made a Spanish film in the style that The Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield, and Quarantine (which is the U.S. remake of the film in review). All three of the aforementioned films made me nauseous. The shaky camera and in-focus/out-of-focus lensing drove me nuts, gave me a headache, and forced me to take “breaks” during the viewing of all three films. Now, with that viewpoint in mind, I still liked [REC] immensely. I had to watch it in three installments, taking breaks to get my equilibrium in check and my eyes back on track.
The film had me transfixed with wonder at what was going to happen next, why was everything happening, when was this horror and mystery going to unfold and tell me exactly why what was happening…WAS HAPPENING!?!
The plot of the film starts off with us watching a Spanish television reporter, Angela Vidal (Manuela Velasco) doing a late-night feature on firemen in Barcelona, Spain. Angela goes with her cameraman, Palbo (Pablo Rosso), to a fire station to interview the men. They get a call about an old lady in an apartment that is trapped and Angela and Pablo go out with them to film some live-action footage of the men at work.
Then the mayhem starts. The scenes are literally thrust upon you with no warning and this technique adds to sense of you actually being there and feeling the same terror and confusion that everyone else is feeling. That part I loved. Some of the scenes where the camera is moving reminded me of how badly I filmed family events without the luxury of a tripod or steadicam. These are the scenes that made me nauseous. There is some saving grace for this film- the gore and the suspense. It is unreal. It is abrasive. I enjoyed that part of it. I was excited watching it.
You have to watch this film in its entirety to fully understand what was going on. In its conclusion, I was still a little mystified, but did not really care. The ride was intense, if not nauseating at times, but that is how these films go for some people. I talked to family and friends and they were able to watch it without any physical ailments, so I guess everyone is affected by this style of camerawork differently.
As you may or may not remember, director Paco Plaza also directed Werewolf Hunter: The Legend of Romasanta (reviewed in the past by yours truly) and is slated to direct the sequel to [REC] in 2009. If this type of film-making becomes a popular trend, I may need to start carrying some dramamine to take before viewing the films!
